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NO. 1138 -- A CHECK-LIST FOR SUCCESS!

No. 1138

Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN

A CHECK-LIST FOR SUCCESS!

Here is a question I would like to ask you to ponder with me for a few minutes today. If you had the opportunity to get an education beyond high school and college of either facts or principles, which would you choose?

The reason I share this is because the education we receive in high school and/or college just prepares us to succeed in real life after we leave the nest and are out on our own. My personal answer to the earlier question about facts or principles - would definitely be principles. The reason is because facts change, but principles do not change.

A while back I ran across a little booklet titled, “How to Plan Your Life” that I had written back in the 1970s. The booklet contained some information that I believe will be of value to you. While I have no way of knowing your age or station in life, I believe you will agree that we should never stop growing mentally. With your permission, I would like to share the following questions and ask you to respond to each one with a simple “Yes” or “No.” As the old saying goes, “If we fail to plan, then we are planning to fail.”

No 1 -- “Do I really understand who I am as a person – a unique human being with unlimited potential for growth and development in the Free World?”

No. 2 -- “Have I taken a realistic inventory to determine where I am in terms of the development of my potential? Do I know my strong points and weak points and what remains to be done?”

No. 3 -- “Am I aware that I have the ability to think, plan, reason and make personal choices which will determine my environment, my rewards, and my future, and also the future of those who depend on me?”

No. 4 -- “Have I given much thought to what I want out of life? Do I have my long- and short-range goals written down with a time limit placed on them? Do I realize the way to get things done is to create a sense of urgency?

No. 5 -- “Do I understand that my own mental attitude towards myself, my service to other people and the work I have chosen will determine my material success and happiness? Do I further understand that the willingness to work for what I want will make my goals become a reality?

No. 6 -- “Am I becoming an autonomous person? Do I fully understand the importance of persistence and do I have a personal commitment to my goals so that I won’t quit?

No. 7 -- “Have I given much thought to the importance of my spiritual life? Have I decided where I will put God?

No. 8 -- “Is my family important to me? What am I doing to set a personal example for other members of my family to build and foster character, honesty and love?

No. 9 -- “Do I have the right career or job for me? Or am I in the process of finding or selecting it? Do I understand that I must love the job or profession to really succeed in it? Do I also understand that I must suffer hardships and problems along the way to really appreciate my work when I find it?

No. 10 -- “Can I make a clear distinction between tangible and intangible income? Do I have my financial goals established both short and long term? Am I willing to save 10 percent of my income each week to accumulate a savings and investment account? Do I have my future investment plans formulated and written down?

No. 11 -- “Do I have a systematic, on-going program of continuing education? Do I understand that what I learn in school is for making a living and what I learn after school is for my own satisfaction and happiness, and will also contribute to the success of others?

Well, that’s it for today. Hope you got an idea or two that you can use.
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(Editor’s Note: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)